Denny Vågerö has researched the health effects of unemployment. In several large studies he has, together with researchers from Karolinska Institutet, among others, looked at the effects of the 1990s crisis. According to the researchers, the link between increased mortality and mass unemployment was "unequivocal".

Affects mainly men

Among men who became unemployed for at least one month between 1992 and 1996, the risk of premature death increased by 26 percent. For women, the connection was not as clear.

The hardest hit were those who did not get jobs when the economy turned. Long-term unemployment was an important factor. Low-educated men, low-income men and unmarried men were over-represented.

The causes of death that appear to increase most due to unemployment are alcohol-related illnesses and suicides .

"Cardiovascular disease also stands out among men," says Denny Vågerö.

Mortality due to traffic accidents also increased, according to the researchers.

Thousands of men may die prematurely

According to Swedbank's latest financial forecast, Swedish unemployment will rise sharply until the summer. According to their economists, it will then have increased by about three percentage points to about ten percent. This means just over 150,000 more unemployed.

Denny Vågerö is careful to point out that all crises are different and that he cannot say any figures on how many people will die this time.

- But based on past assumptions, it is likely that we will see an increase in mortality as it turns, he says.

According to Denny Vågerö, the future of public health is entirely dependent on how the government handles the crisis.

- In previous crises, unemployment benefits and economic rights have been cut. Now it is possible to do the opposite, he says.